Conditions InDepth: Infertility in Women

Infertility
in women is a disorder of the reproductive system that prevents the body’s ability to ovulate and conceive. Recurrent pregnancy loss is often considered a type of infertility. A heterosexual couple is considered infertile when they have not conceived after a full year of regular sexual intercourse without using contraception. Couple infertility may be due to male factors, female factors, or a combination of both.

A successful pregnancy involves many steps. First, a healthy egg must be released from a woman’s ovaries and travel to the fallopian tube. There, a man’s sperm fertilizes it. If fertilization occurs, the fertilized egg then moves down the fallopian tube to the uterus. The embryo secures itself to the uterine wall. This begins the 38-40 week journey from embryo to fetus to baby. Problems can occur at anytime during this process.

Infertility affects an estimated 10% of women aged 15-44 in the United States. Age-related ability to have a successful pregnancy is well documented. Success rates begin to decline at age 35 and are severely reduced by age 40 in women.

Common causes of infertility in women include:

Menstrual cycle dysfunction—the most common cause of infertility in women due to failure to ovulate

Problems with ovulation—something affects the development and release of an egg by the ovary

Fallopian tube blockage—present from birth or may result from surgery, trauma, or infection in the pelvic area

Endometriosis
—results when tissue from the uterine lining is found outside the uterus

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Evaluating infertility.
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Available at:
http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Evaluating-Infertility. Updated June 2012 Accessed December 16, 2015.

Overview of infertility. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gynecology-and-obstetrics/infertility/overview-of-infertility. August 2015. Accessed December 16, 2015.

Treating infertility.
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Available at:
http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Treating-Infertility. Updated March 2015. Accessed December 16, 2015.